Two Maryland companies receive accreditation through National Security Cyber Assistance Program
ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 28, 2014) – Governor O’Malley and Senator Mikulski today congratulated two Maryland companies on receiving Cyber Incident Response Assistance (CIRA) accreditation from the National Security Agency (NSA) Information Assurance Directorate (IAD). The CIRA accreditation is the first accreditation offered to civilian cyber firms under the National Security Cyber Assistance Program.
Only seven companies nationwide have been accredited, and two of them are from Maryland. The two Maryland companies receiving the accreditation are Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions and Maddrix, LLC, a start-up cyber firm based in Baltimore.
“Maryland is the global epicenter of cybersecurity, leading the way in finding cyber tech solutions that make our nation safer and Maryland’s economy stronger,” Senator Mikulski said. “With Maryland’s leading federal assets and dynamic private sector, America’s cyber defense starts in Maryland. The battlefield is real and the battleships are being built right here in Maryland.”
“The fact that multiple Maryland companies have been accredited speaks to our state’s leadership in this emerging, job-creating cyber sector,” said Governor Martin O’Malley.
To become accredited, a company must undergo a positive assessment in 21 critical focus areas of Cyber Incident Response Assistance (CIRA) derived from Industry and Government best practices. As accredited vendors, these companies will help protect critical consumer information. The accreditation also provides vulnerable organizations with the assurance that certified companies have the expertise to handle cyber attacks.
“Lockheed Martin was honored to be designated as one of the first participants in NSA’s cyber incident response initiative, which further reinforced our commitment to customers and our cyber posture delivering Intelligence Driven Defense,” said Darrell Durst, vice president, Cyber Solutions for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions. “We support the CyberMaryland program for its efforts with industry and government to enhance education and training programs, technology and innovation,” he continued.
“Maddrix is proud to be included in the inaugural class of elite cyber security providers accredited under the NSA’s newly formed National Security Cyber Assistance Program (NSCAP),” Stephen Windsor, President of Maddrix, LLC said. “This accreditation validates our proven protocol and our long term support to the United States government and private sector critical infrastructure organizations.”
The O’Malley-Brown Administration continues to do the things that work to accelerate innovation, both here in Maryland and on the national level. For two years in a row, Maryland has been named the number one state in the nation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Over the last seven years, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has invested $84 million through the InvestMaryland and the Maryland Venture Fund, and $7 million in the Cyber tax credits to incentivize and support cyber firms in Maryland.
